Civil War Drawings Collection. Although inscribed as being in Tennessee, the Depot at Stevenson, Jackson County, was in Alabama. The depot at Stevenson was a major junction for the Memphis and Charleston and the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroads. Fort Harker, constructed by Union Army soldiers and freed slaves in the summer of 1862 for the protection of the critical junction, stood on a broad hill east of the town overlooking Stevenson's strategic railroad lines, supply depots, and warehouses. In addition to the fort, the Union Army established a medical facility and a refugee camp at Stevenson, Alabama. Jackson County Tennessee remained under Union control during the Civil War. The only exception was in September 1862 when Confederate forces, under the command of General Albert Gallatin Jenkins, briefly gained control of the county.

Civil War Drawings Collection. The site of The Battle of Aquia Creek. On May 29 and 30, USS Freeborn and the USS Pawnee engaged the Confederate batteries for several hours each day with little effect. On June 1, the USS Anacostia and USS Resolute joined the other ships and bombarded the batteries for almost 5 hours, firing over 500 rounds, again to little effect. Following the battle the Confederates reinforced the defenses constructing a third battery on the bluff and fourth across the mouth of Aquia Creek at Brent Point. One July 7, mines were placed off Aquia Creek in the river, marking the first such use in the war. The mines were spotted by the Pawnee and later removed by the Resolute. These batteries were abandoned in the spring of 1862 when General Joseph E. Johnston recalled their garrison in preparation to defend Richmond at the start of the Peninsula Campaign. The Union eventually established a logistical supply point at Aquia Creek Landing, with the area fully in Union control by February 1863.

Civil War Drawings Collection. Engraved for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 15 October 1864 (XIX:472):60-1, together with 1945.580.57 and significantly modified by the engraver, under the title: "Sheridan's Campaign--Battle at Fisher's Hill, September 23.--Charge of Crook's corps on the right." See also 1945.580.47, Rebel Line at Fisher's Hill A battle in Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan's Shenandoah, Virginia campaign against Gen. Jubal Early's troops, weakened by his defeat at Winchester (Third). On September 21, the Federal army advanced, driving back skirmishers and capturing important high ground opposite the Confederate works at Fisher's Hill. On the 22nd, Gen. George Crook's Corps, hidden from Confederate view, moved along North Mountain to outflank Early’s line. About 4 p.m. Crook attacked Early’s flank, held only by Confederate cavalry who offered little resistance. As Crook began his assault, Sheridan ordered a frontal attack. Facing overwhelming force the Confederate defenders broke and ran to avoid capture. Early retreated south to Rockfish Gap near Waynesboro, opening the Valley to a Federal "scorched earth" operation. Mills and barns from Staunton to Strasburg were subsequently destroyed in what became known as “The Burning".

Civil War Drawings Collection. After being repulsed twice trying to take Fort Wagner [on Morris Island, which protects Charleston Harbor] by storm, Maj. Gen. Gillmore decided on a less costly approach and began laying siege to the fort. In the ensuing days, Union forces besieged the Confederate works with an array of military novelties. Union gunners made use of a new piece of artillery known as the Requa gun with 25 rifle barrels mounted on a field carriage. While sappers dug zig-zag trenches toward Fort Wagner, a second novelty was used: the calcium floodlight. Bright lights were flashed upon the defenders, blinding them enough to decrease accurate return fire while the Union gunners fired safely behind the lights. The Confederate defenders had advantages also. The ground the Union sappers were digging through was shallow sand with a muddy base. The trenching efforts also began to accidentally uncover Union dead from the previous assaults on Fort Wagner. Despite this, by mid August, Gillmore had his siege guns within range of Fort Sumter. On August 17, he opened fire and during the first day of the bombardment nearly 1,000 shells were fired. By August 23, the masonry had been turned to rubble and General Beauregard removed as many of the fort's guns as possible. Gillmore wired the War Department that "Fort Sumter is a shapeless and harmless mass of ruin".

Civil War Drawings Collection. For a report of a similar incident describing the impressing of slaves into the Confederate Army in Savannah, see New York Times, August 21, 1863, Interesting from the South, Impressing Slaves: "A special order has been issued by Brig.-Gen. Mercee, in command at Savannah, impressing into the rebel service one-fifth of the able-bodied male slaves in Eastern, Southern and Southwestern Georgia, for the purpose of erecting additional fortifications for the defence of Savannah. 'Transportation will be furnished them and wages paid at the rate of $25 per month. The Government will be responsible for the value of such negroes as may be killed by the enemy, or may in any manner fall into his hands.'"

Civil War Drawings Collection. USS Sebago (1862-1867) USS Sebago, first of a class of two 1070-ton "double-ender" steam gunboats built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, was commissioned in March 1862. Her first three months of active service were spent in area of Hampton Roads and the nearby York and James Rivers in Virginia, supporting the General McClellan's unsuccessful campaign to take the Confederate capital at Richmond. Sebago was sent to join the blockade off Charleston, South Carolina, in July 1862, and remained in that vicinity until she was damaged by grounding in June 1863. Following an overhaul at New York, in December 1863 Sebago was assigned to the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. She served in the Gulf of Mexico until the end of the Civil War. During the 5 August 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay, the gunboat provided support from outside the Bay as Rear Admiral Farragut fought his ships past Fort Morgan to close the South's principal remaining Gulf seaport. After peace was restored, Sebago was decommissioned in July 1865. She was sold in January 1867.

Civil War Drawings Collection.

Civil War Drawings Collection. The Fanny was originally operated by the United States Army Quartermaster Corps. On August 3, 1861, while on the James River, balloonist John LaMountain made an ascent from the deck of the USS 'Fanny' to observe Confederate positions, making the 'Fanny' a balloon carrier. After the Federals captured Hatteras Inlet the USS 'Fanny' was used to supply a Union army outpost at Chicamacomico north of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. On 1 October 1861 it was surprised by a Confederate gunboat squadron. After a brief engagement the USS 'Fanny' was run aground and surrendered. A large quantity of commissary and quartermaster's stores was captured with the steamer, which was refloated and taken into the Confederate Navy. Four days later the CSS 'Fanny' participated in a relatively large Confederate effort to encircle and attack the Union encampment at Chicamacomico, destroy the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, and recapture the forts at Hatteras Inlet. The initial landing effort was successful, however, the encirclement effort failed, and the Union troops were able to retreat back to the Hatteras Lighthouse. The CSS 'Fanny' spent the next four months patrolling Pamlico Sound and reconnoitering Hatteras Inlet On 7-8 February 1862 the CSS 'Fanny' engaged the Union invasion force in the battle of Roanoke Island. The ship eventually retreated to Elizabeth City when ammunition supplies ran low. On 10 February 1862 the 'Fanny' was attacked by Federal gunboats advancing from Roanoke Island. In the ensuing battle it was run aground and blown up by her captain who escaped with his crew to shore.

Civil War Drawings Collection. The cemetery was established in May of 1864 as a final resting place for Civil War dead, both Confederate and Union soldiers alike. Approximately 132 Confederate prisoners of war were buried at Chalmette until the Ladies' Benevolent Association of New Orleans requested that these soldiers be moved out of Chalmette to the Confederate Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans. Eventually, the cemetery took in an additional 7,000 interments of Union soldiers moved from abandoned cemeteries located all over southern Louisiana, Ship Island, and Mississippi. Civil War burials at Chalmette number well over 12,000, but almost 7,000 are unknown.

Civil War Drawings Collection. The privateer 'Savannah' was captured 3 June 1861 by USS 'Perry'. She was sold as contraband and purchased from the New York City Prize Court on 2 July 1861 by the U.S. Navy and recommissioned under the name USS 'Chotank'. Since the United States did not recognize the legitimacy of the Confederacy, it did not recognize the legitimacy of Confederate letters of marque and reprisal. As far as President Lincoln was concerned, Confederate privateers were simply pirates, and he announced that as such they would be hanged if captured. The privateer Savannah with a crew of about 18, was patrolling off Georgetown, SC for Northern commercial vessels, advanced on a Northern ship they spotted. Unfortunately for them, it turned out to be the USS Perry which promptly engaged in a onesided shooting contest with the Savannah, which the Perry emphatically won. When the 'Savannah', was captured by the Federals in early June, the ship's crew was taken to New York to stand trial for piracy. Jefferson Davis replied that he would hang Union prisoners in response, {letter Davis to Lincoln, July 6-8, 1861]. In the South, thirteen of the highest-ranking Union prisoners were selected by lot to face hanging if the any of the Confederate privateers were hanged. However, the New York jury was unable to reach a verdict and the crisis passed, until the issue resurfaced as the war progressed.